Go into the Ark
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
6/12 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 17; Psalm 104; Isaiah 44; Revelation 14
Genesis 7:1
Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.”
COME
The King James Version translates our verse today like this:
And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.
Which version is correct? Did YHVH say “Go” or “Come thou”? The Hebrew word בּוֹא (bō) can be translated either “go” or “come.” It often depends upon the context. Sometimes, like here, it remains ambiguous. There are other Hebrew words that carry contrary meanings in English. The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (sha-LAK), for example, can either mean “bring” or “send.”
But here in our verse at hand, I would say both are great translations. Here is the first part of the verse in Hebrew:
ויאמר יהוה לנח בא־אתה וכל־ביתך אל־התבה
vay-YŌ-mer y’-HŌ-vah l’-NŌ-ach bō a-TAH v’-khal bayt-KHA el hat-ti-VAH
And said YHVH to Noah, “Come thou and all your house into the ark…”
Or…
And said YHVH to Noah, “You go and all your house into the ark…”
“Why both?” you may be asking. The first, “come,” is because it depicts God’s grace in the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. “How so?” you may ask again. Because, since the ark is literally salvation for those souls during God’s judgment upon the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ, also offers salvation when He said,
“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Moreover, coming to Christ is the promise of eternal life. When He says, “Come,” it is to suggest that not only is Jesus and His cross the ark of safety, Jesus is also in the ark. His presence is what makes heaven heavenly, and to be with Christ is to possess joy unspeakable (Psa 16:11). But what about it’s being translated “go”?
The judgment by which Noah and his family are spared from is the holy anger of almighty God. It is outside the ark/cross of life and refuge. When we are saved from God’s eternal judgment, we are saved from the fiery presence of His consuming wrath. It is written,
“for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29
Hallelujah! What a Savior!